Objections raised to Anglican-Presbyterian agreement [CC]

[Catholic_Press]

The Church of England and the Church of Scotland have agreed to the Columba Declaration, an ecumenical statement that calls for closer cooperation between the two bodies and permits clergy …

More…

 

[Padres1969]

The Church of England and the Church of Scotland have agreed to the Columba Declaration, an ecumenical statement that calls for closer cooperation between the two bodies and permits clergy …

More…

Shouldn’t be too big of a deal. I mean both are the “national churches” of their respective home countries. I’d think eventually the Scottish Episcopal Church would enter into a similar arrangement with the Church of Scotland.

 

[Aslan10]

Shouldn’t be too big of a deal. I mean both are the “national churches” of their respective home countries. I’d think eventually the Scottish Episcopal Church would enter into a similar arrangement with the Church of Scotland.

Many in the Scottish Episcopal Church weren’t too happy when hearing about this agreement. I’m not sure how things have developed since.

Personally, I do not like it either. The Church of Scotland is only “Presbyterian” in governance, and I think more liberal than the CoE overall. I could be wrong though, considering I do not live in either country.

I suspect this is also more of a political move to try and sustain a crumbling union between the two countries. Despite the latest referendum going well for the union, the majority of the younger population voted for independence. Also, in the last general election the Scottish National Party (SNP), which campaigns for independence, won an overwhelming majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament. The future of the union doesn’t look bright and government devolution has certainly shown that.

So, on the surface, it looks like a sign of unity between the two Churches, but below may be a political ploy.

 

[Picky_Picky]

First a correction: the Church of England is not the Anglican Church “in England and Wales”. The Anglican Church in Wales is the “Church in Wales”. I leave the Scots to say whether they agree the Church of Scotland was founded by John Knox!

Here is a more up to date account of the Scottish Episcopal Church’s reaction to the Columba Declaration. Initial reactions seem to have mellowed:

scotland.anglican.org/statement-re-columba-declaration-and-growth-in-communion-partnership-in-mission-report/

 

[Picky_Picky]

The idea, moreover, that the declaration is “a political ploy” is not to be entertained. How it can be imagined that this would in some way influence the political scene I am at a loss to understand.

 

[Aslan10]

The idea, moreover, that the declaration is “a political ploy” is not to be entertained. How it can be imagined that this would in some way influence the political scene I am at a loss to understand.

The only reason this agreement could have taken place is because of the union the two countries, no? It’d be ridiculous if the CoE made this agreement with the Dutch Reformed Church.

Despite the growing secularism in both countries, both churches enjoy a relatively large political platform compared many, and both sides have traditionally supported the union, unless I am mistaken. I’m not sure why that can’t “be imagined?” However, as I am not from the UK and you are, I wouldn’t presume to know more about the culture than you do.

 

[Picky_Picky]

The only reason this agreement could have taken place is because of the union the two countries, no? It’d be ridiculous if the CoE made this agreement with the Dutch Reformed Church.

Despite the growing secularism in both countries, both churches enjoy a relatively large political platform compared many, and both sides have traditionally supported the union, unless I am mistaken. I’m not sure why that can’t “be imagined?” However, as I am not from the UK and you are, I wouldn’t presume to know more about the culture than you do.

Your modesty does you credit. But I assure you, insofar as I understand the current state of play, the political landscape of the Union, which as you say is rocky, will be altered hardly a jot by this insignificant ecclesiological agreement.

 

[Aslan10]

The only reason this agreement could have taken place is because of the union of the two countries, no? It’d be ridiculous if the CoE made this agreement with the Dutch Reformed Church.

Despite the growing secularism in both countries, both churches enjoy a relatively large political platform compared many, and both sides have traditionally supported the union, unless I am mistaken. I’m not sure why that can’t “be imagined?” However, as I am not from the UK and you are, I wouldn’t presume to know more about the culture than you do.